Many hundreds of their best and bravest made the last sacrifice, but the splendid gallantry and dogged and cheerful endurance of the Battalion never lessened. I was, and am, a proud man to have had such a Battalion in my Brigade, a Battalion second to none amongst those who fought for the Empire in the Great War. +-----------------------------------------------------+ | FORMATION OF THE BATTALION, THE HONOURS GAINED, AND | | ITS RECORD IN BRIEF | +-----------------------------------------------------+ FORMATION OF THE BATTALION, THE HONOURS GAINED, AND ITS RECORD IN BRIEF RAISED IN LONDON IN 1914 BY MRS E. CUNLIFFE-OWEN (NOW MRS. STAMFORD, O.B.E.) PARTICULARS OF STRENGTH. ---------------------------------------+-----------+--------+--------+ | Officers. | Other | Total. | | | Ranks. | | ---------------------------------------+-----------+--------+--------+ Total strength of Battalion on | | | | embarkation | 31 | 1,006 | 1,037 | | | | | Total number of reinforcements who | | | | were posted to and joined the | | | | Battalion whilst overseas | 188 | 3,762 | 3,950 | | | | | Total number who have served on the | | | | effective strength of the 23rd Royal | | | | Fusiliers whilst overseas | 219 | 4,768 | 4,987 | ---------------------------------------+-----------+--------+--------+ NOTE.--The above figures do not include those posted to the Battalion for record purposes only, and who never joined the Battalion in the Field. The figures represent only those who have served on the effective strength of the Battalion overseas. COLONELS IN COMMAND. Colonel Viscount MAITLAND. From formation of Battalion to January 29, 1916. Lieut.-Colonel H.A. VERNON, D.S.O. From January 31, 1916, to May 23, 1917. Lieut.-Colonel E.A. WINTER, D.S.O., M.C. From May 24, 1917, to April 14, 1919. Lieut.-Colonel F.L. ASHBURNER, M.V.O., D.S.O. From April 15, 1919, to March, 1920. The Battalion proceeded overseas on November 15, 1915. CASUALTIES SUSTAINED.